Local elections matter. Here in Montgomery County, this election is when we vote for Board of Education candidates supported by educators, or by far right groups like “Moms for Liberty.”

There are three Board of Education races on your ballot and you can vote in all three of them, no matter where you live in Montgomery County.

The JUFJ Campaign Fund has not issued our own endorsements this cycle, but Montgomery County Educators Association (MCEA) and SEIU Local 500, our union partners who represent educators and other staff who work in Montgomery County Public Schools, have made endorsements. When you vote, choose an educator-endorsed candidate who supports safety and belonging for ALL students, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. 

DISTRICT 2

• Natalie Zimmerman is endorsed by both MCEA’s Apple Ballot and SEIU Local 500’s Bus Ballot.
• In contrast, we are alarmed by her opponent, Brenda Diaz. Ms. Diaz has made statements in the press, in questionnaires, and in forums that show she does not support all students regardless of their race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. She is anti-union, an outspoken opponent of vaccines, and supported by a coalition of right wing groups. Overall, Ms. Diaz is not aligned with the values we pride ourselves on in Montgomery County.

In the At Large and District 4 races, MCEA and SEIU Local 500 are split on the candidates they are supporting. Please see page 10 of our voting guide for details about those endorsements, as well as our experiences with the candidates from our issue work. You can also see our recommendations for local ballot questions on page 12 of the voting guide.

For additional information about the candidates, including links to websites and questionnaires, click on the resources link below.